My New Healing Protocol (and a video! and pudding!)
Isn’t this pudding gorgeous? It’s such a breath of fresh air in the middle of winter. And you can make it in less than 10 minutes. I kid you not! To get the recipe for this insanely healthy pudding, visit The Balanced Platter.
Now…let’s talk digestion, shall we?
I haven’t talked about the personal side of my health in a while, so I thought I’d share a little bit about how things are going. Keep scrolling if you want to get to today’s check-in VIDEO!
I’ve considered the past few years of my life to be “healing years.” After a lot of damage from gluten and dairy, my entire system was a wreck around the time I started this blog. It took a good year or two before I gained back some of the weight I’d lost (I’ve written about that process here and here), and even longer before I started feeling like my digestion was normal again.
Since regaining the healthy weight and eating a whole foods-based gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free diet, I’ve experienced major positive changes in my health. Overall, I would say that my digestion is good, my energy levels are great, and my relationship with food is well balanced.
But.
Ah, the inevitable but!
Our bodies are not static vessels. They change on a daily (even hourly!) basis and so we must adapt with their ever-changing needs. In the past six months or so, I’ve noticed some significant changes in my own health:
- For the first time in several years, I’ve had disrupted sleep. This is very unusual for me. I’m normally out cold the minute my head hits the pillow and I don’t wake up at all unless I’ve had too much water to drink before bed.
- I feel more stressed. I’ve turned little things into enormous things that have no business being such energy drainers. I’ve got to get the bottom of why.
- My skin is not as clear. I’ve dealt with acne for quite a few years, but it’s never been horrible. In the past few months, despite a clean and healthy diet, it seems to have worsened.
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Noticing these health changes has motivated me to get to the bottom of why they’re happening. Is it something I’m doing, something I’m not doing, an outside influence? I’m pretty certain that the problems are rooted in three “realms,” if you will:
- The food realm (what I’m eating and drinking)
- The digestive realm (how my body is processing what I’m eating and drinking)
- The emotional/spiritual realm (how my emotions are playing into it all)
A few days ago, I decided to commit to what I’m loosely terming a “healing protocol.” I’m sick of feeling like I’m just the unlucky person with “problem skin” or the gluten intolerant person who’s digestion has never fully healed. It’s about time I put to rest these nagging issues…once and for all!
Even though I’m not experiencing any digestive symptoms, I believe that malfunctioning digestion is at the root of just about every health issue known to man. If digestion isn’t in tip top shape, any number of other issues can arise (skin problems, sleep disruption, nutrient malabsorption, etc.), which is why I’m making sure to really focus on it as a part of my healing protocol.
So what does this healing protocol look like?
I plan to outline it in future posts! I went back and forth trying to decide if I should post about this issue or not, but in the end I decided it was worth it because some of you may be facing similar issues in your own health journey. Above all else, I want Daily Bites to be a place of motivation, encouragement, and education. So I figured that if I share about what I’m doing and how I’m tackling these issues, you can learn right along with me!
In future posts, I’ll be outlining:
- What I’m eating (and not eating…)
- What I’m doing for digestive support and sleep support
- How I’m addressing the emotional side of this whole picture
- What struggles I’m facing, both physically and emotionally
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To help get the ball rolling, I thought it would be easiest to share a quick “intro” video about all of this. I hope to do some v-logging through this process to keep you updated on how it’s going.
I’ll be back soon with more updates. Thanks for hanging in there with me!
(And don’t forget about the pudding. It’s amazing and you don’t want to miss it.)
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I am so happy to finally find a foodist that takes negative sympoms as a sign to change things as there is a problem; rather than call them detox symptoms to support their way of eating. Our bodies detox every moment and it doesnt always have to be uncomfortable with negative symptoms. It is my idea that too many folks mistake the signs their body gives them. I am finding that vitamin and mineral deficiencies can still happen on a healthy, raw vegan diet which happened to me.
I am happy to follow your journey. Thank you, because I know it will help me in my own diet and issues with achieving health.
Hallie,
I’m really excited about learning with you! Ive been wanting to do this too but didnt realy know where to start. Thank you for sharing with us all.
It’s courageous for you to share…thank you. We all have our own issues and often think we are alone in them, so the fact that you are making yours “public” is good. A lot of us already relate to your issues – (at least I do) – and I just wanted to wish you all the very best on this journey. I look forward to learning some new things :)
Thank you for being so forthcoming with us. I respect what you are doing. I read on FB that you said it was hard to hit the publish button. I for one am grateful you did. I appreciate your goals of making this blog a place for motivation, education and encouragement. Please keep up the good work.
I’m so glad you posted this Hallie! I’ve been away from your site for a while and it’s extra special that I’m back today and you posted this.
I lost 25+ pounds in 2011 but gained it all back last year. I chose to relax for Christmas 2011 and never went back on my plan. Yesterday was day 1 for me and I’m more committed than ever because I think eating whole foods helps me deal with depression and perimenopause. I’m glad to have your inspiration to help me on my way:-)
Hallie I am with you on this! I am working on the same realms this year.
I read a fabulous book called Eating Alive. Have you read it? It was eye-opening in regards to digestion. There are some basic digestion fundamentals that we’ve never really been taught.
I also really believe in the spiritual side of the healing protocol. Anatomy of the Spirit is really helping me with that realm :) Best wishes on this journey. xo
Thank you so much for posting this! It comes at a very critical time for me. I have been having issues that I am trying to deal with and don’t know where to start. I’ve been relatively “free” of so many allergens for several years now and am frustrated with some symptoms that I can’t figure out. Your journey will definitely help me with my journey!
This is lovely, Hallie. So many people will benefit, thanks for your courage in showing your vulnerability. And I couldn’t agree more about your tree analogy.
Thank you so much for this post, your candor and the chance to “see you in person” on the video. Yes, we are never a “finished ” product. Three years after my change to a diet low on the glycemic index and gluten free, I also am realizing I need to go still deeper into that balance of body, mind and spirit. I look forward to learning from your journey.
Thank you, Hallie, for stretching yourself and sharing your issues with us. We all have “issues” whether we like to admit them or not, but I appreciate you opening yourself to us. I, too, have had sleep deprivation issues the past few months and I’d like to know why as well. I expect most all of us will benefit from this blog and am so looking forward to the next post and possible video.
Great post, Hallie, and I, too, am glad you shared! I’ve still got lots to work on myself and will be right there along with you. I agree with Maggie up there–Eating Alive is a great book, and well worth the read! :)
Thank you so much for sharing this, Hallie. I’ve been working on designing a healing protocol for myself also because I’m still experiencing a lot of inflammation and other issues, even after cutting out gluten, corn, dairy and refined sugar. I’ve learned a lot from the book Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford, but I’m still struggling to put it all together. I look forward to following your journey.
May I gently suggest a hormonal imbalance. It would not be uncommon for any woman’s at any age to have a hormone imbalance. Digestive issues can lead to a hormone imbalance as well.
So glad you are addressing this. I too struggle with blemishes. I have been dairy, gluten and refined sugar free for years and recently have found myself in digestive upheaval. Cheers!
I have also been on a journey trying to figure out why some nasty symptoms have suddenly cropped up. Along with dietary changes, I had blood work done that showed my progesterone was incredibly low. Especially for someone my age (39) who has not gone through menopause. Acne and insomnia (or not sleeping soundly) were only two of my symptoms. So my doctor and I are marching onward to take care of this issue. Thanks for being open and honest. It really does make many of us realize we are not alone or the “weird one” in this. haha! Good luck and looking forward to seeing your progress. I also recommend having your hormone levels checked, thyroid too.
Best regards,
Andrea